Dave from Dayton

It's Indiana! Can Coach Woodson pull a rabbit out of his hat? Right now, no, we are not very good.

Oh. H. J. Thanks for the onsite observations from MSG last evening. But I was so pumped and looking through rose-colored glasses that I put IU over UConn at the last minute. Stoopid me. I can't help but hope IU does better. But without a stable of stable guards, IU is playing uphill all year. And I just wonder about Coach Woodson. This is his team. And right now, it looks dysfunctional. They are not getting any separation against lesser teams. And they are too easy to defend.

If Louisville does the rope-a-dope effectively on Xavier and Ware, Indiana is toast. That is if IU's defense doesn't improve significantly. And someone besides Reneau gets some production. That is all I have.

All along I have been emphasizing that IU needs a seasoned and effective point guard and shooting guards to compete. Xavier Johnson took himself out of the UConn game. UConn effectively did the rope-a-dope. Cupps just isn't fast, strong, big, experienced enough to take on the top guards in the D1. Shooting guards don't shoot. Guards don't rebound. Perimeter help defense doesn't help. And since Ware got weighted down and hacked with no fouls being called...game over. IU, right now, is a one-trick pony. Get into X's head and hang onto Ware...game over. Long year coming.

IU 73 70

That just might be it. Or, IU does not have the dollars to spend on a buyout and a new coach. And/or Dolson does not have a prospective and agreeable head coach candidate in the wings of the stadium. Or the Trustees and/or the top administration are not in agreement because they love LEO. I have more...

We hit one.

The refs will start calling in favor of IU. X will score 10 points from here out. IU gets all of the rebounds and frees. IU wins 74 - 72.

Did you see Klingon swinging those elbows?

How many moving screens don't get called on UConn?

Don't step on the rake, againl

Need to box out. Stop those offensive rebounds by UConn. Ware needs to go up and shoot underneath as soon as possible. Galloway should distribute and think.

Yet.

Ware got fouled, no call

Doubled Ware...

ESPN shows tip is 1:05. Go IU!

Changed my prediction! IU prevails and is back....takes the crown from UConn! IU 74 UConn 72

Presently, I have UConn winning by 3. Oh...should I switch to IU? IU by 2 IU 74 Losers 72

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing and mean your mother...

True. But there sometimes are reasons for the shifting of the betting. Xavier participating might have something to do with it. Or it could just be that the original lines were skewed too far one way. I think that betters are seeing that a lot of the press/pundits are prejudiced to the east coast and what happened last year. UConn has just as many unknowns as the other teams at this point. That and IU has not covered the spread. Earlier I asked if Coach Woodson will tighten his substitutions. And, I think that the team is starting to get 'it'. Let's stop with the cup is half empty stuff. I'm a cup is half fool...

Thanks Home Jersey. So, when you get there and observe Xavier and the team, let us know, please, your thoughts. Is he moving well? Is he starting? I am more concerned with the guards and the perimeter than the inside game. Take UConn down! Hit free throws, rebound and defend well.

Just saw that myself. Now I'm seeking a report from MSG on whether he is starting and whether he is moving well.

Xavier Johnson travelled with the team to NYC. He participated in a light practice on Saturday. No announcement yet on his gametime appearance. Is Coach Woodson going to limit the platoon-type substitution pattern? Is X going to start and play well? Can Ware stop UConn's backup center from last year? Will anyone on either team hit a decent number of threes? Can UConn make up for missing their starting PG? Why did UConn run up the scores against bad teams this year? Why didn't IU run up the scores against not quite so bad teams as played UConn this year? Is Coach Woodson sandbagging UConn? I don't think so. But he isn't showing what he has up his sleeves. I hope. It is going to be telling. And I think it will be closer than most seem to think. I am seriously thinking of changing my prediction to an IU win. If Xavier is moving well in warmups and Woody says he is starting...why the heck not go for it? GO IU!!!

UConn is undefeated this season. But all 3 of their opponents have been no competition. Much worse than IU's competition. It is anyone's game.

Which likely means that Dolson already has a vetted head coach candidate. Outside of our view, there would have been inquiries made, consultants that do the behind the scenes communications and background and networking. The final decision, of course, would be Dolson's. After next week's possible announcement of the negotiation of a separation contract...a recommendation committee will be put into place. The short-list of candidates will then be made. Not many actually will be made public to protect those coaches' present positions. Dolson's most-likely favorite will be on the list. And voila, IU enters a new era. The new coach comes in and is introduced. He will say things that the AD wants him to say. New culture. Discipline. NIL. It's not your parents' football program. I've got new ideas. Upgrade offense, defense, coaches. POTFB. Tom Allen may make about $4.5 million and is apparently the 38th highest salary for an NCAA football coach. UW football coach Kalen DeBoer is the 44th highest-paid coach in NCAA college football, with a total annual pay of $4.2 million. Just giving these for reference. And I did not check those salaries closely.